radical chic

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Coined by American author and journalist Tom Wolfe in 1970.[1]

Noun[edit]

radical chic (uncountable)

  1. The adoption and promotion of radical political causes by celebrities, socialites, and high society.

Descendants[edit]

  • Italian: radical-chic

References[edit]

  1. ^ Tom Wolfe (1970 June 8) “Radical Chic: That Party at Lenny's”, in New York Magazine[1]:Radical Chic, after all, is only radical in style; in its heart it is part of Society and its traditions. Politics, like Rock, Pop and Camp, has its uses; but to put one's whole status on the line for nostalgie de la boue in any of its forms would be unprincipled.

Further reading[edit]